Many RetailWire panelists commented recently that the new team at JCP has focused publicly on “the P’s” of retailing…product, price, presentation, personality, and so on. Notably absent was any discussion of “People,” who will be critical in making the changes stick:

I think the bigger issue than the store associates is the people at JCP’s corporate offices. The implication of almost everything the new team is trying to do is that the old team failed, which is a hard message to hear even if it’s true. And clearly Ron Johnson is committed to expense cuts, which means some significant headquarters job losses. So it’s critical for merchants and others to understand their role in making the new JCP work, not just looking over their shoulders waiting for their pink slip.

Just to add a current note: JCP promoted a veteran merchant (Liz Sweney) to its top merchandising job, perhaps recognizing that an insider would be helpful in executing the new direction of so many outside hires.